Southern California Wildfires Ravage Hundreds of Homes, Property

Hundreds of homes in Southern California blazed recently as firefighters worked round the clock to contain the out- of-control wildfires that plagued parts of San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties.

Over 1,000 homes were destroyed across the region, with several thousand homes threatened. The fires were fueled by the dry Santa Ana winds and minimal humidity.

Thousands of residents were evacuated, taking shelter in local area schools. Firefighting resources were stretched to their limits as nearly all of emergency personnel and equipment was being utilized.

Governor Gray Davis declared a state of emergency in the four counties being affected, and President George W. Bush subsequently declared the counties a disaster area, paving the way for federal funding.

Four different fires ravaged San Diego County, including the Cedar Fire, the Otay Fire, the Paradise fire, and the Camp Pendleton fire.

The Cedar Fire began near Ramona, Calif., approximately 36 miles northeast of San Diego. The blaze began Oct. 25 and quickly destroyed 528 homes in Scripps Ranch, Tierrasanta, Lakeside, Ramona, Crest and other parts of the East County. Eleven deaths have been reported.

The cause of the Cedar Fire has been unconfirmed, but authorities have detained a hunter suspected of setting off a flare gun. Over 200,000 acres have been charred.

A second fire, the Otay Fire (sometimes referred to as the Mine or Dulzura Fire), developed in the Otay Mesa area Oct. 26 and burned over 45,000 acres, briefly crossing the border into Mexico. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No deaths have been reported.

The Paradise Fire, north of Ramona in the Valley Center area, has scorched approximately 30,000 acres and destroyed 57 homes and 103 additional structures. Two deaths have been reported.

The Camp Pendleton Fire burned approximately 8,500 acres since Oct. 21, with a reported full containment. Six injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The fires also affected air travel, canceling most flights coming to and from San Diego, and air traffic nationwide was affected when the fire came dangerously close to a Federal Aviation Administration radar facility at Miramar Naval Air Station, forcing controllers to evacuate.

A Monday Night Football game pitting the San Diego Chargers against the Miami Dolphins was moved from San Diego to Tempe, Ariz.

San Bernardino County was inflicted with two separate fires, Grand Prix and Old, which merged at the intersection of interstates 215 and 15 Oct. 26. Combined, the fires devastated approximately 83,000 acres in the San Bernardino and Angeles national forests. A reported 527 homes have been destroyed.

In Ventura County, the 90,000 acre Simi Valley Fire destroyed 13 homes and 64 buildings at a reported five percent containment.
A second blaze, the Piru Fire, destroyed 29,324 acres. The blaze started Oct. 23, with the cause under investigation.

The Verdale Fire in Los Angeles County started Oct. 24 and burned 9,000 acres. The cause of the fire is reportedly arson.

In Riverside County, the Mountain Fire destroyed nine homes and 10,000 acres.

Insurance impact
At press time, “The Insurance Information Network reports 1,330 claims submitted so far from six companies that comprise approximately 70 percent of the marketplace,” Jerry Davies, director of communications for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC), said. “The California Department of Forestry (CDF) and Office of Emergency Services (OES) report 1,100 homes destroyed thus far. However, CNN reported 1,200 homes destroyed. More are burning at this hour. This represents all fires and approximately half the homes reported destroyed are located in the San Diego fire areas.”

“Preliminary estimates indicate that losses from the wildfires could exceed more than $1 billion,” Don Griffin, assistant vice president of business and personal lines at the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII), said. “The Northridge Earthquake in Jan. 1994, the largest single, recent disaster in California, produced in excess of 630,000 claims and cost insurers $12.5 billion in claims paid to victims.”

“The conditions are there that exist to make it catastrophic,” Peter Moraga, communications specialist for the Insurance Information Network of California (IINC), said. Moraga said that until adjusters are able to get close to the sites, estimates would be “very preliminary.”

The 10 fires will undoubtedly have a profound impact on homeowners insurance in California in the future. “The widespread fires will have an impact on future premiums and underwriting in California,” Griffin said. “The overall impact of those claims is impossible to estimate at this time. However, insurance companies are prepared to handle the claims arising from the fire.”

“This of course will not happen until after all fires are out and insurance companies individually have had an opportunity to assess damages and claims,” Davies added. “However, it will really not have an impact until mid-year 2004 when the full picture of all claims should be assessed.”

Davies said insurance companies have been responding quickly to the blazes, mobilizing thousands of personnel, including claims units, catastrophe teams, agents, adjusters and company personnel. The companies have set up hotlines and are distributing leaflets and brochures on how to file claims at evacuation centers and in fire scene areas.

Editor’s note: Fire statistics from CNN.com. All information current as of Oct. 28.

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Claims Wildfire Property Homeowners